| militate | mitigate |
| Definition:
(1) To make less severe is to mitigate, whereas (2) to increase the force of something is to militate. |
| Example: Mutual distrust militated against mitigating their anger. |
| Etymology:
(1) The word militate derives from the Latin militatum, which is the past participle of militare, serve as a soldier (from miles, soldier). (2) The word mitigate derives from the Latin mitigare, make mild or gentle (from mitis, gentle or soft). |